Applying autonomy to distributed satellite systems: Trends, challenges, and future prospects

While monolithic satellite missions still pose significant advantages in terms of accuracy and operations, novel distributed architectures are promising improved flexibility, responsiveness, and adaptability to structural and functional changes. Large satellite swarms, opportunistic satellite networks or heterogeneous constellations hybridizing small-spacecraft nodes with highperformance satellites are becoming feasible and advantageous alternatives requiring the adoption of new operation paradigms that enhance their autonomy. While autonomy is a notion that is gaining acceptance in monolithic satellite missions, it can also be deemed an integral characteristic in Distributed Satellite Systems (DSS). In this context, this paper focuses on the motivations for system-level autonomy in DSS and justifies its need as an enabler of system qualities. Autonomy is also presented as a necessary feature to bring new distributed Earth observation functions (which require coordination and collaboration mechanisms) and to allow for novel structural functions (e.g., opportunistic coalitions, exchange of resources, or in-orbit data services). Mission Planning and Scheduling (MPS) frameworks are then presented as a key component to implement autonomous operations in satellite missions. An exhaustive knowledge classification explores the design aspects of MPS for DSS, and conceptually groups them into: components and organizational paradigms; problem modeling and representation; optimization techniques and metaheuristics; execution and runtime characteristics and the notions of tasks, resources, and constraints. This paper concludes by proposing future strands of work devoted to study the trade-offs of autonomy in large-scale, highly dynamic and heterogeneous networks through frameworks that consider some of the limitations of small spacecraft technologies.Postprint (author's final draft

Relief distribution networks : a systematic review

In the last 20 years, Emergency Management has received increasing attention from the scientific community. Meanwhile, the study of relief distribution networks has become one of the most popular topics within the Emergency Management field. In fact, the number and variety of contributions devoted to the design or the management of relief distribution networks has exploded in the recent years, motivating the need for a structured and systematic analysis of the works on this specific topic. To this end, this paper presents a systematic review of contributions on relief distribution networks in response to disasters. Through a systematic and scientific methodology, it gathers and consolidates the published research works in a transparent and objective way. It pursues three goals. First, to conduct an up-to-date survey of the research in relief distribution networks focusing on the logistics aspects of the problem, which despite the number of previous reviews has been overlooked in the past. Second, to highlight the trends and the most promising challenges in the modeling and resolution approaches and, finally, to identify future research perspectives that need to be explored

Process monitoring IAN Agroparks in India : Transforum report 2009

This is the first report of the TransForum project Process monitoring agroparks international, which focuses on India and specific on the development of the IFFCO Kisan SEZ Nellore in the south of India. It contains an overview of process design and the content of the proposition of IAN agroparks in India for 2009

Inter-firm collaboration in transportation

Dans la littérature académique et professionnelle relative au transport de marchandise, il y a longtemps que les méthodes de planification avancées ont été identifiées comme un moyen de dégager des économies grâce à une efficacité accrue des opérations de transport. Plus récemment, la collaboration interentreprises dans la planification du transport a été étudiée comme une source de gain supplémentaire en efficacité et, par conséquent, une opportunité pour dégager de nouvelles économies pour les collaborateurs. Cependant, la mise en œuvre d'une collaboration interentreprises en transports soulève un certain nombre d’enjeux. Cette thèse aborde trois thèmes centraux de la collaboration interentreprises et démontre les contributions via des études de cas dans l’industrie forestière et du meuble. Premièrement, les moyens technologiques pour soutenir une collaboration en planification du transport sont étudiés. Un système d’aide à la décision supportant la collaboration en transport forestier est présenté. Deuxièmement, le partage entre les collaborateurs du coût commun en transport est étudié. Une méthode de répartition du coût de transport tenant compte de l'impact - l’augmentation du coût de transport - des exigences inégales entre des collaborateurs est proposée. Troisièmement, la création de groupes collaboratifs - des coalitions - dans un ensemble de collaborateurs potentiel est étudiée. Un modèle réseau pour la formation d’une coalition selon les intérêts d’un sous-ensemble de collaborateurs adoptant ou pas un comportement opportuniste est détaillé. De plus, pour soutenir l'étude des thèmes précédents, la thèse comprend deux revues de la littérature. Premièrement, une revue sur les méthodes de planification et les systèmes d’aide à la décision en transport forestier est présenté. Deuxièmement, à travers la proposition d'un cadre pour créer et gérer une collaboration en transport et, plus généralement en logistique, une revue de travaux sur le transport et la logistique collaborative est offerte.In the academic and professional literature on freight transportation, computer-based planning methods have a long time ago been identified as a means to achieve cost reduction through enhanced transportation operations efficiency. More recently, inter-firm collaboration in transportation planning has been investigated as a means to provide further gains in efficiency and, in turn, to achieve additional cost reduction for the collaborators. However, implementation of inter-firm collaboration in transportation raises a number of issues. This thesis addresses three central themes in inter-firm collaboration and exemplifies the contributions in case studies involving collaboration in furniture and forest transportation. First, technological means to enable collaboration in transportation planning are studied. Embedding a computer-based planning method for truck routing, a decision support system enabling collaborative transportation is presented. Second, sharing the common transportation cost among collaborators is studied. A cost allocation method taking into account the impact – an increase of the transportation cost – of uneven requirements among collaborators is proposed. Third, building collaborating groups (i.e. coalitions) among a set of potential collaborators is studied. A network model for coalition formation by a subset of self-interested collaborators adopting or not an opportunistic behaviour is detailed. Moreover, to support the study of the aforementioned themes, the thesis includes two literature reviews. First, a survey on planning methods and decision support systems for vehicle routing problem in forest transportation is presented. Second, through the proposition of a framework for building and managing collaboration in transportation and, more generally in logistics, a survey of works on collaborative transportation and logistics is given

Planificación de la logística en redes de salud: análisis y resolución

Healthcare networks bring together a wide range of public and private entities (hospitals, specific service units, healthcare professionals, …) at local or regional level that seek for management effectiveness, decisional efficacy and coordination. This thesis analyzes the problem statement: "How can those organizations integrate their internal logistic network?" Theories, concepts and integration guidelines from supply chain management theory have been applied to investigate this problem. On healthcare networks already in place, the application of centralized planning procedures is the more appropriate management strategy to rationalize and pilot the change processes. Hence, a general tactical level model is stated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model supporting decisions on the global view of network layout and the coordinating policy among facilities in such networks. Apart from the adoption of optimization tools to provide a framework for costefficient operations, we have identified that information sharing and service level agreements are the key aspects in the effective accomplishment of logistics integration. We have conducted a case study at the Andalusian Regional Network of Clinical Laboratories (ANCL), a large healthcare network with geographically dispersed hospitals, clinics, and testing laboratories, that initiated an organizational strategy to enhance accessibility to services, quality of care and cost savings. Different solution strategies have been addressed in the MILP model that arises, in order to embed this model into a graphical, interactive and responsive Decision Support System (DSS) tool to support ANCL planners’ analysis of What-If scenarios. Drawing on the ANCL case study, it appears that the integration of the Information Tecnologies (IT) Systems at the different facilities and locations within the network and the centralization of the logistic planning procedure can be of invaluable help for aligning operational models and organizational behavior around demand, capacity and network configuration. This suggests that although such integration projects are difficult, costly and complex, they seem worth undertaking.Las Redes de Salud se basan en el trabajo en común de una variedad de entidades públicas y privadas (hospitales, unidades de servicios específicos, profesionales sanitarios,...) a nivel local o regional, en busca de una gestión efectiva, con toma de decisiones y coordinación eficientes. Esta tesis analiza la siguiente pregunta de investigación: "¿Cómo pueden las organizaciones integrar su red logística interna" Las teorías, conceptos y directrices de integración de la Cadena de Suministro se han aplicado para investigar este problema. En redes de salud ya funcionando, la aplicación de procedimientos de planificación centralizada se identifica como la estrategia de gestión más adecuada para racionalizar y pilotar los procesos de cambio. Por ello, planteamos abordar el objeto de la tesis mediante un modelo de programación lineal entera mixta (MILP) de nivel táctico, del que emanarán las decisiones sobre la visión global del diseño de la red y la política de coordinación entre los miembros de la red. Además de la adopción de herramientas de optimización para proporcionar un marco para operaciones eficientes en costes, hemos identificado como aspectos clave en la consecución efectiva de la integración logística en este tipo de redes el intercambio de información y el cumplimiento de acuerdos de nivel de servicio. Como caso práctico, hemos realizado esta integración en la Red Andaluza Regional de Laboratorios Clínicos (ANCL), una red sanitaria extensa con hospitales, clínicas y laboratorios clínicos dispersos geográficamente, que inició una estrategia de cambio organizacional para mejorar la accesibilidad al servicio de pruebas clínicas, la calidad del servicio y propiciar ahorro de costes. Sobre el MILP que resulta al abordar este caso de estudio, hemos aplicado diferentes estrategias de solución. Puesto que este modelo de optimización ha de usarse como el corazón de un Sistema de Soporte a la Decisión (DSS) a disposición de los planificadores ANCL para realizar análisis de escenarios, la agilidad en la generación de soluciones es un requisito primordial. Basándonos en nuestra experiencia con la ANCL, parece que tanto la integración de los sistemas de Tecnologías de Información de los diferentes miembros en la red como la centralización del procedimiento de planificación logística (a través del cual se fijan las directrices de coordinación anual) son de inestimable ayuda para la alineación del modelo operativo y el comportamiento organizacional en torno a demanda, capacidad y configuración de red. Esto sugiere que aunque tales proyectos de integración sean difíciles, costosos y complejos, el esfuerzo parece valer la pena

Individually optimized commercial road transport: A decision support system for customizable routing problems

The Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) in its manifold variants is widely discussed in scientific literature. We investigate related optimization models and solution methods to determine the state of research for vehicle routing attributes and their combinations. Most of these approaches are idealized and focus on single problem-tailored routing applications. Addressing this research gap, we present a customizable VRP for optimized road transportation embedded into a Decision Support System (DSS). It integrates various model attributes and handles a multitude of real-world routing problems. In the context of urban logistics, practitioners of different industries and researchers are assisted in efficient route planning that allows for minimizing driving distances and reducing vehicle emissions. Based on the design science research methodology, we evaluate the DSS with computational benchmarks and real-world simulations. Results indicate that our developed DSS can compete with problem-tailored algorithms. With our solution-oriented DSS as final artifact, we contribute to an enhanced economic and environmental sustainability in urban logistic applications

Supporting Humanitarian Relief Distribution Decision-Making under Deep Uncertainty : A System Design Approach

With respect to copyright, all the papers were excluded from the dissertation.Disasters threaten society with widespread destruction of infrastructure and livelihood. For their survival, affected inhabitants depend on immediate humanitarian assistance from diverse organizations. During quick responses, humanitarian decision- makers (HDMs) act rapidly to distribute necessary relief goods, despite the deep, prevailing uncertainty that arises from scarce, conflicting, and uncertain information. To support HDMs in humanitarian relief distribution (HRD) decision-making, humanitarian logistics (HL) researchers have developed various mathematical models. These models are, however, specific to disaster scenarios, and most of them are detached from the realities of the field since end-users (mainly practitioners) have been absent in the development process. When tested, these decision-making models were found to be capable of producing good results, but they have not been implemented in practice because of operational inconsistency or complexity (i.e., lack of user-friendliness). Therefore, humanitarian responders are still in need of support systems to assist them in determining effective HRD. A computer-based decision support system (DSS) can fill this need by providing necessary recommendations and suggesting decision alternatives. Hence, developing such DSSs is always the priority in HL.publishedVersio